Abstract: A system for automatically billing information services in conjunction with utilities services. The system includes a main unit having a host computer with a database for storing data of various types, and a transceiver for radio communications. The system also includes a plurality of terminal units for receiving said data of various types. In operation, the main unit transmits data tagged with a unique data identification code, and each of the plurality of terminal units is provided with a utilization status counter for storing data identification codes of data actually executed. Each terminal unit then calculates service fee based on the stored data identification codes in the utilization status counter referring to fee conversion data which the main unit transmits at regular intervals.

Abstract: An efficient billing system for value-added information. The present invention provides an efficient billing system in which an information provider, can bill an information service fee in an efficient manner when the receiving device of a user receives toll information via radio communications, typically satellite communications. The present invention essentially comprises a main unit at a transmitter side having a host computer with a database for storing data of various types and a transmitter for radio communications, and a plurality of terminal units for receiving said various types of data. Each data frame of various data types transmitted from the main unit has a data identification code identifying the corresponding data type. The terminal unit stores utilization status data which are processed, and executed. The utilization status data singly or in combination with public utilities rate data are fed back to the main unit.

Abstract: The invention comprises a transmission device incorporating a database holding numerous game data and a receiving device on which computer games can be played. The receiving device accepts numerous game data transmitted cyclically by the transmission device, selects and stores specified game data and is used to play the game. When the receiving device is used as a commercial game machine, it is fitted with a coin input unit. When a coin is input into the unit, key input is enabled and the game can then be played. If a game calls for more than one player, the host computer at the transmission device end controls the order of input of the terminal devices.

Abstract: The invention prevents unauthorized use of data in communications. When terminals with different data transmission rates are simultaneously connected to a host computer, the host computer sets a single common data communication rate to all the terminals to assure synchronization. The host computer is connected each terminal via communications network. The host computer sends a data body to each terminal over a unidirectional communications link in a cyclic manner while a bidirectional communications link is established between the host computer and each terminal. Response to an individual request from each terminal, the host computer downloads descrambling data for descrambling and a loader program for executing the data body. The host computer determines from among the terminals, any terminal having a communications means that sets the lowest data transmission rate, and sets the data transmission rates of the terminals simultaneously connected thereto to the lowest rate.

Abstract: A device for making efficient use of the free time between speech transmissions and binary coded data transmissions, the device including a switch which will automatically output both the binary coded data and the outgoing speech signals to a telephone line and which will connect to the device, each of the incoming signals received from the telephone line. The device includes an outgoing transmission block and an incoming transmission block. The outgoing transmission block outputs speech signals or data signals selectively after mixing the signals with one of two tone signals of different frequencies. The incoming transmission block first identifies incoming signals by two bandpass filters and then, depending on the identity of the signals, selectively connects the incoming signals either to a speech restoration circuit or to a data restoration circuit.

Abstract: An idle time communication device in which communication windows are created during the transmission of broadcast data from a center unit to a user's home device, the windows being designated to augment the data transmission function by enabling one-to-one bidirectional communication between the center and the user's home. The invention assumes the prior existence of a communication device for the transmission of broadcast data from the independent center through the telephone network to the user's home and achieves its object of one-to-one bidirectional communication between the center and the user's home through the use of packet communication which is carried out during the idle time on the telephone network, which connects the switching system of the local telephone exchange with the telephone in the user's home.

Abstract: A system for the transmission and reception of data by telephone line, the system making use of the idle time on the telephone line, which connects the switching system of a telephone exchange with the telephone in a user's home, to transmit signals by way of the telephone line from a center independent of the telephone exchange to the user's home. The center includes a data base for storing a plurality of items of compound data, each item consisting of a specified number of interrelated data groups, and a transmission unit which accesses the database, reads data groups in order from an item of compound data, converts the resultant digital signals to analog form and outputs the analog signals to the telephone line.

Abstract: The invention converts information input from either a charge line or a non-charge line to data form and then stores it in a memory device along with identification data specifying the type of line on which the information was received. It also reads information from the memory device in response to information read requests received by way either of a charge line or of a non-charge line and, when called upon to output said information either to a charge line or to a non-charge line, it inhibits the output of the information to a non-charge line in cases where the line indicated by the aforementioned identification data and the line on which the information read request is received are both non-charge lines.

Abstract: A karaoke system incorporating a backing chorus mixing device having a memory for storing backing chorus patterns converted to data form by breaking down and organizing the backing chorus for a particular piece of music into appropriate segments. Thus, when reproducing a piece of music created in accordance with the MIDI standard, all the chorus data corresponding to said piece of music can be read from said memory and synchronized with the music reproduction data, after which appropriate chorus patterns can be selected one by one and mixed into the music. The invention thus enables the requisite memory capacity to be kept to a minimum while at the same time enabling not only the reproduction of original sounds from music data created in accordance with the MIDI standard but also the reproduction of a mutual backing chorus sound created from data based not on the MIDI standard but obtained directly from natural human voices.

Abstract: A device which enables two or more users of outside lines to converse on equal terms with each other. The connection method provides a distributed form of processing. The outside lines are connected to corresponding voice signal lines which intersect with two-party conference lines which serve as connectors for two voice signal lines, and multiple party conference lines which serve as connectors for three or more voice signal lines. Connection is possible at any intersection point. The device is also fitted with a conference line selection signal decoder to enable connection of a voice signal line with a specific conference line as specified by an incoming signal. Exclusion control lines are fitted to prevent the connection of more than two voice signal lines to the same two-party conference line. The voice signal lines are connected to a voice processor to enable the output of voice signals to an outside line.

Abstract: A device is for the display of still animation images in sequence on a display in time with the reproduction of music by a digital sound source driven by MIDI signals. The device reads a series of specified or optional animation images from an image database, which holds many animation images, and transmits them in accordance with tempo data which forms part of the MIDI data. The device also uses pitch data to determine the color of the animation images to be displayed. The device composes the still images and the specified colors and displays them on a visual display medium.

Abstract: The invention provides an indication for a karaoke singer of that music in the karaoke music library which would be best suited to the singer's own vocal characteristics. For the purpose of providing this indication, the singer's voice signals are first of all sampled at suitable intervals and the sample waveforms converted into specimens made up of digital values. A body of data relating to vocal characteristics is at the same time stored in the device, each item of said data being assigned its own code. When the above specimens are input, they are compared with the stored data by an evaluation means which then identifies the items of data that resemble each other most closely. The codes which are incorporated into the data items so identified are then treated as retrieval items and any library data with a matching code for each of a plurality of pieces of music is duly retrieved and the music with the matching code is extracted.

Abstract: The invention relates to a technique whereby karaoke music and lyrics, which have been digitalized with the help of MIDI data, are transmitted by public telephone line for reproduction on a terminal unit. Associated dynamic images are, on account of the volume of data required, stored independently of the music and lyric data within the terminal unit itself and retrieved and extracted with the help of codes which are written into the data in advance. The dynamic images and the lyrics are finally mixed and output to a visual display medium.

Abstract: The invention is designed to provide a clear indication, for karaoke purposes, of the point at which a piece of music starts to build to a climax. To this end, the invention first relates warning period data, which is inserted in advance of the climax start position, to the music data and stores it in memory. This warning period data is subsequently read out and matched with the music data for input to a counter, which initiates a count immediately on receipt. At the same time, the warning period is divided into equal warning time intervals, the countdown of which provides a basis for the output of a message advising the user of how long remains before the climax start position.

Abstract: The invention, which assumes the use of digital music data, such as MIDI data, inserts marker codes in advance into music data at appropriate break points such that the music can then be replayed in accordance with said marker codes without sounding unnatural to the listener. If, while an output means is reading music data out of a memory means and outputting it to a sound source, the user decides he wants to replay a part of the music, he inputs a position specification by way of an operation means. A replay means then issues a replay instruction to said output means which returns to a point close to a stored marker code and outputs the music data from that point onwards. The prior insertion of marker codes into the music data at appropriate break points enables the music to be replayed from any point without arousing a feeling of unnaturalness in the listener.

Abstract: Conventional karaoke devices simply show lyrics on screen. This invention displays not only lyrics but also data useful for the enhancement of the singer's presentation such as the strength of the vocals and the pitch. More precisely, vocal data, which indicates the special requisites of a specific vocal rendition such as its strength and pitch, and the current lyric position indicator, which marks the current position in the lyrics, are correlated with the music data to which they correspond and then stored in memory. The said vocal data and current lyric position data are then read out of memory and each block of vocal data is displayed on the screen of a visual display medium a little in advance of the music to which it corresponds while the current lyric position within said block of vocal data is indicated in time with the music. Moreover, the strength and basic frequency of an actual vocal rendition can be detected and compared with the stored vocal data.

Abstract: The purpose of the invention is to ensure that when digitally coded music is being reproduced as audio signals and lyrics are being displayed on a screen that the progress of the two operations is synchronized.To this end music reproduction data is processed for reproduction in accordance with division values calculated on the basis of tempo data contained in the said music reproduction data while synchronization with the current position in the lyrics, which are displayed on a visual display unit, is advanced in accordance with values derived through multiplication of the aforementioned division values by a constant factor, thereby ensuring the synchronization of the reproduction of the music and the display of the current lyric position on the visual display unit.

Abstract: The invention presupposes the operation by a telephone company of an automatic billing system which incorporates a means of calculating a utilization charge in accordance with the number of seconds during which a user who has called a special number is connected to that number, and then of adding the utilization charge to the user's call charge. At the user's end the invoice charge data is input and the number of seconds of connection to a special line number are set in accordance with the invoice charge and a network control means then connects with the special line number for the number of seconds which has been set. The telephone exchange's utilization charge computation means then adds the utilization charge to the call charge for collection from the user. In this way the telephone company is able to collect an invoice charge on behalf of the supplier of the corresponding service.

Abstract: The device generates an audio signal from a sound source using a MIDI signal. The music data consists of many pieces of music stored in a memory device like a database in an on-line host computer or an external magneto-optical disc. The music generation processing operations are carried out by 2 microprocessors, each assigned a different set of functions to speed up the overall processing. The receipt and transfer of data to the sound source from the sequencer is carried out in parallel. The data is subsequently output in parallel and the contents of the buffer are monitored constantly to prevent overflow malfunctions. Clock time is divided to enable the generation of trigger signals to control tempo. By variation of the timing of the trigger signals in accordance with tempo data taken from the data stream, the tempo can be varied while reducing the reproduction time processing load.

Abstract: Data for reproducing music and displaying words are composed of binary-coded digital signals. Such signals are down-loaded via a public communication line, or data corresponding to a plurality of musical pieces or songs are previously stored in an apparatus, and the stored data are selectively processed by a CPU. In the instrumental music data, trigger signals are existent for progression of processing the words data, whereby the reproduction of music and the display of words are linked to each other. The music thus reproduced is utilized as background music or for enabling the user to sing to the accompaniment thereof while watching the words displayed synchronously with such music reproduction.